Spotlight on children abusing children

A national meeting of counsellors is highlighting the hidden problem of children who sexually abuse their peers.

The conference in Hobart is examining problem sexual behaviours.

A report for the Australian Crime Commission in 2010 found that between 40 to 90 per cent of the sexual abuse of children is perpetrated by their peers.

Conference organiser Liz Little says abuse and inappropriate behaviour by children is often overlooked or dismissed.

Ms Little says children are often unable to get help because of the taboos around the issue.

"People find them horrifying, I think they like to believe that these things occur somewhere else with other types of people rather than in their own community," she said.

"Most people hold a myth that sex offenders are dirty old men in raincoats on street corners and certainly we have that deviant community but it is, in fact, only a small proportion of the sex offending that takes place."

"A significant proportion of it obviously takes place in families."

The conference also heard the internet is playing a big role in the sexualisation of children.

Dale Tolliday from Sydney's Westmead Children's Hospital says the offenders are often siblings and the abuse can be profound.

"It's the full range of sexual behaviours," he said.

"The sexual knowledge that children have today is actually quite staggering and the internet has played a significant role in delivering that information.

"This needs to be not taboo any more, it needs to be be acknowledged so that the children aren't left isolated."

Ms Little says there should be a national education program.

"We do know that as schools and practitioners, general practitioners become more aware of these issues there's more seeking of help," she said.

Advocates are hoping the Royal Commission into institutional child sexual abuse will give the issue momentum.